Tragic car crash for fish-seller (From Gazette Series)

Tragic car crash for fish-seller

A FISH merchant who supplied fresh Grimsby fish to towns and villages in the Dursley district has been seriously injured in a head-on smash in which his son, and partner in the business, was killed.

Regular customers who looked forward to the weekly visit and promise of fresh Grimsby fish were shocked by the news that Ray Hilldrith, 69, and son Andrew, 28, will no longer be visiting.

The father and son had set up their own business - AMH Fish - several years ago and had a successful delivery round across the country including a regular Wednesday morning slot in Dursley Market Place and visits to sheltered housing complexes in Cam, Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge.

Manager of Cambridge House in Dursley Judy Trevelyan said residents were deeply upset by the news.

"Ray visited every week," she said. "He was very kind and everybody really appreciated his visits."

Mrs Trevelyan said the visits would be sorely missed.

"Ray's son was often with him. Having fresh fish delivered was a real treat and the visits will be well missed by a lot of people."

Dursley traders were also saddened to hear the news and have started a collection for flowers.

The accident happened on the A46 near Stratford-0n-Avon around 7.30pm last Thursday. It is thought the father and son were making deliveries on their way back to Grimsby at the time.

Steve Norton, of the Grimsby Fish Merchants' Association, said they were regular faces at the fish market.

"I would often see Ray at the market early on Monday morning," he said. "He would buy all the fish he needed for his rounds before travelling across the country.

"It's a real tragedy that a young man has died, especially at this time of year.

"It was great that someone so young as Andrew had decided to make the fish industry his career.

"This accident could mean the end of the family business and that would be a real shame."

Mr Hilldrith, who suffered serious head and chest injuries in the accident, was transferred from Warwick to Grimsby Hospital on Tuesday.